Colombia

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are the scene for new and exciting policy trends in science, technology and innovation (STI). Countries in the region have made significant strides in developing robust policy frameworks, supporting the development of vibrant national and local innovation ecosystems. In some cases, the region has become an exporter of good practices and successful policy examples for developed and developing countries alike. 

At Technopolis Group, we pride ourselves on being innovation thinkers, movers and shakers. We are successfully operating at the forefront of public policy development in the LAC region and contributing to the region’s positive policy trend. Through our network of local and international consultants, we are in a unique position to offer top-notch advisory services to policymakers looking to develop stronger and smarter STI policies, based on evidence of what works and what doesn’t. 

We are the only consultancy offering access to such a wide variety of skills and expertise to STI decision-makers and practitioners in the LAC region, and our track record proves it! We have worked with clients ranging from large multilateral organisations such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the Development Bank of Latin American, to national governments and agencies such as the National Department of Planning and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia, CORFO in Chile, and Innovate Peru, to local innovation stakeholders such as the Escuela Politecnica del Litoral in Ecuador and Ruta N Medellin. We also work for a range of international donors and organisations operating in the region, including the European Commission, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom. 

Our business unit for Latin America and the Caribbean is based in Bogotá, Colombia. Mónica Salazar is the Managing Partner in Colombia, leading our business in the region, and is supported by a large group of Spanish speakers consultants working in  Technopolis Group’s European subsidiaries.

What´s new

Design of a regional ecosystem model of dynamic entrepreneurship and innovation for Antofagasta (Chile)

This assignment is aimed at designing a regional dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystem model for the region of Antofagasta, Chile. The design includes the strategy and governance for the implementation, operation and visibility of the model, and the construction of a measurement model to monitor the evolution of the ecosystem and benchmark it against other ecosystems in Chile, Latin America and the world. The model should consolidate a structure that facilitates effective support to entrepreneurs and promotes the strengthening of the community of dynamic entrepreneurs in the region. Likewise, the model will enhance the capacities of the different actors that are already part of the ecosystem, and will attract talent, knowledge and investment from other regions of the country and other countries.

STI health policy for Bogota

The District Secretary of Health contracted Technopolis Group and Econometría Consultores for the design and formulation of the Science, Technology and Innovation policy in health for the city of Bogotá, for the next 10 years. The design of the policy will be carried out under the policy approaches of transformative STI,  knowledge ecosystems and the social determinants of health. A baseline of indicators will be established, lines of research and innovation will be prioritized, and an action plan will be formulated.

Meet our experts

Monica Salazar, the new managing partner of our office in Colombia, who will lead our business development into the Latin America and Caribbean market from 1 May 2022.

Monica Salazar has over 30 years of experience specializing in STI public policy and capacity-building. She has developed her career in a hybrid way, as a public official (at national and international levels), a researcher and university lecturer in both Colombia and Canada. For almost 7 years, she was the Executive Director of the Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology, a non-profit organization dedicated to research on STI policy and the production of STI indicators. Prior to joining Technopolis Group, Monica worked for the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Division. at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is a vibrant, diverse, dynamic region. It holds many possibilities for sustainable growth, where STI have a lot to bring to benefit the local population. Therefore, Technopolis Group has decided to invest in the infrastructure of the subsidiary to build on these foundations and grow our business. Therefore, we decided to transition towards the standard Technopolis Group Policy Consulting business model, with a managing partner, an office manager and in-house consultants.

New reports by the Colombian office

Impact Assessment of the STI Fund of the Colombian Royalty System (2021) developed in partnership with Econometría Consultores, for the National Planning Department of Colombia. The project proposed a methodology to measure the effects of the STI royalties’ resources on social and economic dimensions in the territories; and characterized the STI territories capacities based that allow identifying the main results of the STI royalties’ resources at the national and regional levels. The evaluation tools included desk research, statistical analysis of secondary data (for both components), and for the impact evaluation the technique of panel data model with fixed effects was used. 

Final report and data available: https://sinergiapp.dnp.gov.co/#Evaluaciones/EvalFin/1200

Design of a foresight methodology to strengthen public policymaking capacities in Colombia (2020-2021), developed in partnership with Oportunidad Estratégica and Prospektiker, for Swisscontact and the National Department of Planning of Colombia. The activities developed were: i) Review of national and international foresight methodologies relevant to the design of public policies; ii) Proposal of a methodology to strengthen and modernize public policy formulation; iii) Design and implementation of two pilot-cases with the proposed methodology; iv) Transfer of knowledge, to the client, on the foresight methodology developed. The research tools used for conducting the project was desk research, interviews and workshops with experts, pilot case studies. The methodological guide can be retrieved at: https://www.colombiamascompetitiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SC-Guia-metodologica-prospectiva-LIBRO-DIGITAL-110121.pdf

Evaluation of IDB Lab operations. The Office of Oversight and Evaluation (OVE) of the Inter-American Development Bank. The IDB Lab is the innovation laboratory of IDB group, it promotes development through the private sector by identifying, supporting, testing and piloting new solutions to development challenges and seeking to create opportunities for the poor and vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The main purpose of the evaluation of the portfolio of 320 IDB Lab projects conducted by Technopolis was to ascertain whether IDB Lab’s mandates were reflected in the operations it finances, and the extent to which these had generated, results that contributed to the fulfilment of IDB Lab’s mandates. The evaluation tools included desk research, online survey to team leaders and executing agencies, statistical analysis of project M&E data and survey results, and interviews. This evaluation was part of the overall corporate evaluation of the IDB Lab conducted by OVE, which final consolidated report is available at: https://publications.iadb.org/en/evaluation-idb-lab-strategic-relevance

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